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Sex differences in aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH): aneurysm characteristics, neurological complications, and outcome

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-20, 16:14 authored by Sabah RehmanSabah Rehman, Chandra, RV, Zhou, K, Tan, D, Lai, L, Asadi, H, Froelich, J, Thani, N, Linda NicholsLinda Nichols, Christopher BlizzardChristopher Blizzard, Smith, K, Thrift, AG, Christine StirlingChristine Stirling, Michele CallisayaMichele Callisaya, Monique BreslinMonique Breslin, Reeves, MJ, Seana GallSeana Gall
Background: Women are over-represented in aSAH cohorts, but whether their outcomes differ to men remains unclear. We examined if sex differences in neurological complications and aneurysm characteristics contributed to aSAH outcomes.

Methods: In a retrospective cohort (2010-2016) of all aSAH cases across two hospital networks in Australia, information on severity, aneurysm characteristics and neurological complications (rebleed before/after treatment, postoperative stroke < 48 h, neurological infections, hydrocephalus, seizures, delayed cerebral ischemia [DCI], cerebral infarction) were extracted. We estimated sex differences in (1) complications and aneurysm characteristics using chi square/t-tests and (2) outcome at discharge (home, rehabilitation or death) using multinomial regression with and without propensity score matching on prestroke confounders.

Results: Among 577 cases (69% women, 84% treated) aneurysm size was greater in men than women and DCI more common in women than men. In unadjusted log multinomial regression, women had marginally greater discharge to rehabilitation (RRR 1.15 95% CI 0.90-1.48) and similar likelihood of in-hospital death (RRR 1.02 95% CI 0.76-1.36) versus discharge home. Prestroke confounders (age, hypertension, smoking status) explained greater risk of death in women (rehabilitation RRR 1.13 95% CI 0.87-1.48; death RRR 0.75 95% CI 0.51-1.10). Neurological complications (DCI and hydrocephalus) were covariates explaining some of the greater risk for poor outcomes in women (rehabilitation RRR 0.87 95% CI 0.69-1.11; death RRR 0.80 95% CI 0.52-1.23). Results were consistent in propensity score matched models.

Conclusion: The marginally poorer outcome in women at discharge was partially attributable to prestroke confounders and complications. Improvements in managing complications could improve outcomes.

History

Publication title

Acta Neurochirurgica

Pagination

1-12

ISSN

0001-6268

Department/School

Menzies Institute for Medical Research

Publisher

Springer-Verlag Wien

Place of publication

Sachsenplatz 4-6, Po Box 89, Vienna, Austria, A-1201

Rights statement

Copyright 2020 Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Clinical health not elsewhere classified

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    University Of Tasmania

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